Combination awning



Oct. 5, 1954 Filed July 13. 1955 R. 5. WOQDA RD COMBINATION AWNING 2Sheets-Sheet l WW. Frrazmeys Oct. 5, 1954 R. s. WOODARD 2,690,796

COMBINATION AWNING Filed July 13. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG] PatentedOct. 5, 1 954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION AWNING Roy S.Woodard, St. Louis, Mo. Application July 13, 1953, Serial No. 367,595

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to combination awnings in which a permanentlymounted canopy supports a fabric curtain. While its use is by no meansconfined thereto, the awning of this invention has particularapplication in combination with an outwardly swinging casement window.

Awnings now in general use have certain common disadvantagesparticularly when they are used over outwardly swinging casementwindows. They are mounted high above the window frame to clear thewindows when they are swung outwardly, and the awnings extend so faroutwardly as unduly to shade the windows and to look ill-proportioned.Fabric awnings, while foldable, have, in their folded position, deephorizontal pockets which catch water and tend to sag below the top ofthe window. Metal awnings are permanently mounted and when they providesufficient shade for the bright summertime, produce gloomy darkness inwinter.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a combination awningwherein a simple, shade-producing, fabric curtain is supported by apermanent canopy in such a way as to be readily mounted and demounted,and when demounted is constructed to roll into a compact package forshipping or storage.

Another object is to provide a fabric curtain which is constructed andmounted in such a way that lateral movement of the curtain is minimized.

Another object is to provide a combination awning wherein a fabriccurtain is self-storing beneath a permanent canopy to which the curtainis attached.

Another object is to provide a combination awning which affordsventilation between a fabric curtain and a permanent canopy from whichthe fabric curtain depends.

Another object is to provide a combination awning wherein a fabriccurtain, folded in a selfstoring position beneath a permanent canopy, isstretched taut along the underside of the canopy and forms nowater-catching pockets in that position.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in thelight of the following description and accompanying drawing.

In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a combinationawning is provided in the form of a permanent canopy and a fabriccurtain depending from that canopy. The permanent canopy may be a metalcanopy similar in form to ones now known, a metal canopy of thecharacter of one of the illustrative embodiments of this inventiondescribed hereafter or even overhanging eaves or a marquee type canopy.The fabric curtain may flare outwardly beyond the outermost edge of thepermanent canopy, or it may hang substantially vertically. In eitherevent it is provided with lower and upper rods, so constructed andarranged as to permit their being folded along a long edge of thatcurtain and the curtains being rolled to form a small compact package.The fabric curtain is mounted beneath the permanent canopy and is spacedinwardly therefrom to provide a ventilating space therebetween.

The fabric curtain is so constructed with respect to the permanentcanopy as to fold beneath the canopy with a center section of the fabriccurtain stretched taut beneath the permanent canopy and with sidesections of the fabric curtain either neatly folded in a triangularpiece without wrinkles, or else wrinkled to form vertical channels inwhich water cannot stand.

The fabric curtain is of substantially, uniform Width and therefore ischeaply and easily made.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of an awning constructed in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment of this invention mounted on a wallabove a double, vertically-pivoted, outwardly swinging casement window,in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing the fabriccurtain in folded position;

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation, showing the interior side of thecasement window shown in Figure l, with the awning in place;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective, showing demountable rods mountedalong upper edges of the fabric curtain;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a View in perspective, of another embodiment of thisinvention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a detailed view in perspective, of a hinged corner of aU-shaped rod; and

Figure 11 is a detailed view in perspective, of a curtain mountingbracket.

Referring now to Figures 1-6 of the drawing for one illustrativeembodiment of this invention, I represents an outside wall of abuilding. A

double, vertically-pivoted, outwardly swinging casement window 2 ismounted in a frame 3 in the wall I. The frame 3 is equipped with acentral dividing pillar 4. A combination metal and fabric awning I ismounted on the wall I outboard of and above the frame 3. The awning I0is made up of a metal canopy I2 and a fabric curtain I4. The metalcanopy I2 may be permanently mounted on the wall I by means of screwsI6, taking into the wall I through flanges I8. The canopy I2 has a toppanel andside panels 2|. The top panel 20 has a shallow outward anddownward pitch. It is provided with ventilating slots 22 defined by rims23, covered by cap strips 24, which are spaced from the rims 23, andremovably fastened thereon by bolts 25. This provides a bailiearrangement which serves to keep out water from the top, but to allowthe passage of air. In the embodiment shown, an ornamental border 26depends from the outer edge 21 of the top panel 20.

The side panels 2| are connected along the full length of their topedges with the top panel 20, and may be made integral therewith. A loweredge 30 of each of the side panels 2| slopes downwardly from the outeredge 21 of the top panel 20 to the wall I. Mounted along the insidelower edges of the side panels 2| and the top panel 20 are rod-holdingbrackets 32. The rod-holding brackets 32 have shanks 33 extendinginboard of the canopy far enough to provide a substantial space betweenthe side panels 2| and the top panel 20 and a rod-holding clip 34 on theinside end of the shanks 33.

The fabric curtain I4 is hung on side rods 35 and front rod 36, as shownin Figure 5. Each of rods 35 and 36 has two free ends 31 projectingbeyond the fabric. These ends 31 are releasably held in the clips 34. Inthe embodiment shown,

the lower edge of the curtain I4 is scalloped.

at 43. The free ends of the rods 4| are hingedly mounted on the wall Ibelow and slightly inboard of the side panels 2|, as shown at 44. Thelegs 4| are longer than the lower edges 30 of the side panels 2|. Thefabric curtain I4 is of substantially uniform width so that the legs 4|are substantially parallel with the lower edge 30 of the side panel.With this arrangement the fact that the legs 4| are longer than thelower edge 30 of the side panels produces an outward flair in the frontsection of the fabric curtain, with respect to the outer edge of themetal canopy.

The width of the fabric curtain and the length of the legs 4| are sorelated and proportioned as to permit the U-shaped rod 40 to swing upbeneath the metal canopy and, in its fully raised position, to pull thefront section of the fabric awning tight as shown in Figure 3.Preferably the front section of the curtain pulls tight before the legs4| of the U-shaped rod 40' have reached a vertical position, so that therod 40 will return to its extended, downwardly-swung position under theforce of gravity. In order to accomplish the raising of the curtain andto hold it against dropping to its extended position, a draw cord 46 isconnected to the center of the curtain near its lower edge, preferablydirectly to the cross-member 42. The draw cord 46 extends above thewindow and passes either through the frame or through the wall above theframe at the center of the lintel, directly above the central pillar 4.A hook or bitt 41 is secured to the inside face of the central pillar insuch a position that the draw cord 46 may be looped therearound when thefabric curtain is fully folded, to maintain the curtain in thatposition. The draw cord 46 thus extends along the face of the centralpillar, and is both neat in appearance and out of the way.

In this illustrative embodiment the legs of the jointed U-shaped rod 40being longer than the lower edges 30 of the side panels 2 I, hencelonger than the side rods 35, must extend inboard of the side rods 35and above the plane of the rods 35 and 36 when the curtain is in itsmost upwardly folded position.

The fabric curtain of this embodiment may easily be mounted on the metalcanopy from inside a building. The windows are swung outwardly and thecurtain (supported by the U- shaped rod) laid across the tops of thewindow. The ends of the rods 35 and 36 are snapped into the spring clip34. The U-shaped rod is opened and pushed beyond the tops of thewindows, when it should now be supported in approximately its properposition with respect to the hinge point by the curtain. The free endsof the legs need only be mounted on their hinges, and the task iscompleted.

The cap strips 24 may be finished in contrasting colors with respect tothe remainder of the awning, and may easily be replaced so as to perunita change in color scheme without the necessity of repainting the awningor getting a new one.

Referring now to Figures '7 thru 11 for another illustrative embodimentof this invention, a metal canopy Iii] is permanently mounted on a wallIIiI, being fastened thereto by means of screws H5 takin into the wallthrough flanges H3. The canopy III) has a top panel I20 and side panelsI2I. The top panel I20 has an ornamental border I26 depending from itsouter edge I2'I. In this embodiment a lower edge I30 of the side panelsIZI is horizontal. Extending inwardly from the inside surface of each ofthe side panels I2! near its juncture with the ornamental border I26 isa rod-supporting bracket I34. In the illustrative embodiment shown, thebrackets I34 are made of two pieces of metal strip. One of the pieces isbent to form a horizontal shelf I35, a strut I36, and a pair of verticaltabs I3'I by means of which the brackets I34 are riveted, or bolted, orwelded to the side panel I2 I. The second piece is an -shaped memberI38, the foot I39 of which is riveted, bolted, or welded to the uppersurface of the shelf I35, with a leg I40 extending upwardly. The leg I40is spaced away from the outermost edge of the shelf I35 so as to providea ledge |4| upon which a curtain-supporting rod may rest as is hereafterdescribed.

In this embodiment a fabric curtain I I4 is substantially rectangular,and is provided with jointed U-shaped rods I50 along both its upper andlower edges. These jointed U-shaped rods I50 may be identical. They arepreferably made as shown in Figure 10. As there appears, a front roclI5I is secured within a sleeve I52 which is U-shaped in end view andL-shaped in side view. The front rod I5| is mounted fixedly in the footI53 of the sleeve I52. A side rod I54 is pivotally mounted in the stemI55 of the sleeve I52 in such a way that the inside surface of the rod155 at the end of the rod adjacent the front rod i5! abuts the end ofthe front rod within the sleeve :52. As is shown in Figure 9, anidentical joint is provided at each end of the front rod Hi. Theabutment of the rods and His is such that the rods I54, must be sprungout in order to allow them to be seated in a hinge ltd, in the case ofthe lowermost rod or a bracket ifii in the case of the uppermost rod. Aclip, similar to the clip 3 3 in the embodiment first described, may beused in place of the bracket The springing of the side rods lbs givesrigidity to the structure and inhibits any lateral movement of thelowermost rod.

The uppermost U-shaped rod Hit, supported at its free ends by thebracket 16f, simply rests at its jointed ends on the ledges ii of thebrackets I35. The upstanding legs ass prevent lateral movement of theupper rod. The curtain l 54 may either be cut away to allow for theledge Hit, or the stretch of the goods may be relied upon to permit therod [54% to lie over the top of the ledge it! and rest thereon.

In this embodiment the distance from the upper of the jointed rods I58to the lower of those rods is made slightly greater than the length ofthe side rods Hi l. In this way the lowermost rod can swing up below theuppermost rod, and the rods therefore can be identical in size. thecurtain lid is drawn to its upwardly folded position by means of a drawcord I63 beneath the top panel 12!) of the canopy iii], the frontsection of the fabric curtain its is stretched substantially taut andthe side sections of the curtain lid are neatly folded in a smoothtriangle.

The curtain of this embodiment is extremely simple to make, since itconsists of a simple rectangular piece of material.

The fabric curtains of either of the illustrative embodiments may bestored or shipped, de-

' mounted for the canopy, simply by foldin the legs of the U-shaped rodsin against the front rod (and in the embodiment first described layingthe rods 35 alongside the rod 35) (and merely rolling the rods andcurtain into a compact bundle. The neatness and compactness of thebundle is made possible by the fact that the cur tain is ofsubstantially uniform width.

The metal canopy in this invention is very small as compared with themetal awnings now in use. It neither extends as far outwardly, nor doesit have such a steep pitch as metal awnings known heretofore. As aresult of this arrangement, wherein the fabric curtain serves to providemost of the shade, the metal canopy can be permanently mounted withoutobjectionable shading of the interior during the winter months.

The spacing of the upper edges of the fabric curtain from the metalcanopy serves not only to permit circulation in the space between thecurtain and the awning while the awning is ex- When 6 tended, but, moreimportantly, permits that circulation when the curtain is in itsupwardly folded position. Unless such a space were provided, the centersection of the fabric curtain would practically seal the canopy againstair circulation, and tend to trap a pocket of hot air.

The fabric curtain arrangements of the illustrative embodimentsdescribed may be used in conjunction with canopies already in existence.For example, they may be adapted to use with overhanging eaves, or themarquees common to certain of the southern States. They may even be usedin conjunction with already known metal canopies, although much of theadvantage to be derived from the canopy with less height and pitch thanthe conventional ones will, of course, be lost by so doing. The use ofupper and lower U-shaped rods with joints like those which weredescribed in connection with the embodiment of this invention shown inFigures 7 through 11 is particularly advantageous in installations inwhich presently existing canopies are utilized. Not only are such rodseasily mounted but, as has been pointed out, are rigid.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

In combination with a permanent canopy extending above a window in aWall, a fabric curtain of substantially uniform width, mounted on saidcanopy and depending therefrom, said ourtain having a front and two sidesections, said side sections extending away from said window and saidfront section extendin transversely of said window between said sidesections; a lower U-shaped rod having a front rod and two side rods,said front rod extendin and being mounted along the front section of thecurtain, said side rods extending and being mounted along the sidesections of said curtain, said side rods being jointed at one end tosaid front rod for folding thereagainst and being pivotally mounted atthe other end on said wall; an upper front rod and two upper side rodsmounted along the front and side sections respectively of the upper edgeof said curtain, said upper side rods being positionable along andagainst said upper front rod; and brackets, secured to the canopy andreleasably supporting said upper rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 109,758 Rice Nov. 29, 1879 1,257,535 Sampson Feb, 26, 19181,777,739 Shaw Oct. 7, 1930 1,805,950 Mack May 19, 1931 2,136,012 JonesNov. 8, 1938 2,566,459 McCoy Sept. 4, 1951 2,579,780 Atwood Dec. 25,1951

